EFFECT OF AN ULTRATHIN AU INTERLAYER AT A CO CU(111) INTERFACE ON THEMAGNETIC-PROPERTIES/

We have found from spin-wave Brillouin spectra that a half-monatomic t hick Au interlayer at a Co/Cu(111) interface causes a significant impr ovement in magnetic uniformity in the Co ultrathin overlayer film depo sited. The field-independent Brillouin spectrum width abruptly decreas es with the insertion of the Au-interlayer, and an inhomogeneous trans ition at a critical field between out-of-plane and in-plane magnetizat ions also is suppressed. From the field dependence of the spin-wave en ergy, we find that the second-order uniaxial perpendicular anisotropy increases with the Au interlayer. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physi cs.